Mentawai Islands

Macaronis Resort

Put simply, Macaronis is the funnest wave in the world. It is also one of the world’s most consistent high quality waves, ultra-rippable, and a bucket list destination for any surfer.

Imagine, empty white sand beaches extending into clear warm water where perfect waves peel around a myriad of reefs wrapping into multiple pristine bays… it’s the place surfing dreams are made of!

Macaronis Resort is situated on Siniai Island, just off the coast of North Pagai Island in the southern region of the Mentawai Islands, Indonesia. It is in a very remote area, 120 nautical miles from Padang, West Sumatra. The largest village and port on North Pagai Island is Sikakap, with passenger ferry transits to-from Padang. From Sikakap a speed boat transfers guests to Macaronis Resort.

Macaronis Resort guest suites were recently refurbished in 2016. All 16 guest suites are located on the second-floor of the resort building, elevated 8m above sea-level with spectacular ocean, lagoon, and pool views.

When to Visit

Discovered in the 1980’s and kept secret for over a decade, Macaronis popularity skyrocketed when word got out. Powerful swells arrive from March – November, while December – February produces smaller long period swells, ideal for beginners and those who prefer quality medium sized waves with less crowds. The biggest secret is the quality of uncrowded surf during shoulder and summer months, when warmer weather keeps Southern hemisphere surfers closer to home.

The Resort

Enjoy the comfort and privacy of a first class Mentawai resort just a stones throw from one of the world’s best waves! Macaronis Resort offers an unforgettable vacation experience with quality facilities and access to a variety of fun activities for the whole family.

The resort features all the modern conveniences you would expect, including A/C, hot water, a beautiful lagoon-style swimming pool and On-Location Spa offering massage and skin-treatments. The resort is situated on a clean salt-water lagoon with stunning ocean views and prime access for exploring in paradise.

In addition to incredible surfing, guests can enjoy kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing, snorkeling, and more right from the resort doorstep. You can expect that we have your priorities covered, including those of the ladies and the kids!

Guest Suites

Macaronis Resort guest suites were recently refurbished in year 2016. All 16 guest suites are located on the second-floor of the resort building, elevated 8m above sea-level with spectacular ocean, lagoon, and pool views. Each suite has a 4m veranda with seating and drop-down shades for privacy. Specific focus has been made to ensure maximum thermal and acoustic insulation in floors, walls, and ceilings, keeping rooms cool and completely noise proof for maximum guest comfort. The guest suites offer the highest quality Mentawai surf resort experience, being raised from ground level with wonderful sea breezes.

Local Climate

The climate in the Mentawais is hot and humid with rainfall occurring all year. Seasons vary from year to year; El Nino conditions typically deliver Southerly trade winds during the Southern hemisphere winter time, while La Nina conditions typically produce more Northerly winds.

Bar and Restaurant

The Bar and Restaurant is located on the ground floor within the communal entertainment area. There is a choice of either indoor, or outdoor seating by the pool to enjoy your meal or relax with a beer or cocktail in hand.

A live surf cam feed of Macaronis wave is usually up on the 50″ wall-mounted flat screen TV in the Bar & Restaurant area until dark. There is also the option to watch surf DVDs, the latest Macas videos, or the day’s footage from this big screen.

Macaronis RestaurantThey serve a variety of hearty, delicious, western and Indonesia meals. Their professional chefs prepare fish, a selection of premium imported meats, and a variety of vegetarian dishes, soups, curries, salads, pizzas, desserts, and more. Theyoffer a set menu, but cater to any diet and food preference at no additional cost.

Meals are on a schedule, but there are options for those who do not want to miss out on the surf. From a continental breakfast available at first light, to options for pre-ordering a hot breakfast to have when you return from the surf. if you surf through lunch, they will have your midday meal available for you, when you are ready to eat. We make sure you are well fed and happy with your meals!

Desserts are served after lunch and dinner and include chocolate cashew cookies, cheesecake, tropical fruit crumble with fresh cream, coconut chocolate slice, banana chocolate chip muffins and many more!

Every evening usually begin with a few shared stories, laughs and a preview of the day’s video and photo footage whilst sharing appetizers.
A twice weekly outdoor BBQ under the stars (weather permitting) is a highlight of every trip, with a delicious buffet of BBQ’d fish, chicken, chops, satays plus delicious sides, salads, sauces, and desserts.

Chefs can accommodate any food allergies or eating preferences. Like the guests, supplies come out to the resort only twice per week, but they are always well stocked and plan ahead. Gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian guests are carefully accommodated to as well.

BarThe bar serves a variety of cocktails, imported Australian red and white wine, spirits, beer, espresso, and snacks. Just ask for your special drink request and the bar staff can prepare it for you (subject to ingredient availability).

Bar Menu items are not included in your package inclusions, and can be paid for at the end of your trip with Visa, Mastercard, or in cash with Indonesian Rupiah.

Sinalai Spa

Welcome to Macaronis Resorts own Siniai Spa. Indulge in a healing spa treatment by one of Macaronis own massage therapists. Professionally trained, our lovely massage therapists give high-quality, caring treatments that will leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. With an understanding of surfer ailments, they work with you to focus on areas of tension and address your specific needs.

Set in the open air pool-side gazebo, the calming tropical sounds of the sea breeze rustling in the palms and the beautiful bamboo chimes make for an unforgettable experience. Choose from a variety of massage options and healing body scrubs to make your vacation experience that much more rewarding!

Experiences

The tropical paradise that surrounds Macaronis Resort offers so much more than amazing surfing. The resort is stocked up with recreational equipment to make exploring and enjoying the local environment easy for all guests. Kayaks, paddle boards, fishing equipment, snorkeling gear, and more are available for use free of charge so the whole family can get out and enjoy the surroundings.

Included in trip packages are speed boat rides with guides for any activity the guests would like to arrange including village visits, snorkeling trips, fishing trips, and exploring. The resort hosts and guides offer their expertise in equipment and local knowledge of the best spots for fishing and snorkeling.

There are two nearby beaches for exploring as well. One you can walk directly to from the resort out to the point where beautiful large shells can be found among the coral. A longer stretch of white sand beach extends around the bay across the small channel which you can get to by paddle board, kayak, swimming, or a quick boat ride.

Transfer Information

Macaronis Resort arranges easy and comfortable return transfers from PDG airport to the resort and back. Guests will need to arrange only their flight into Padang, Sumatra Airport (PDG). Guests will be picked up at the airport (no matter when they arrive) and shuttled to the ferry headed for the Mentawai Islands or to a hotel in Padang.

Guests will have a private A/C sleeping cabin on the overnight ferry as well as meal, and clean sheets and blankets. The ferry is the safest, most reliable way to get to the resort. We guarantee it! You won’t have to worry about a thing, it is all taken care of for you.

Return to Padang Transfer DetailsCheck out time on Wednesdays and Sundays is at 10:00am. The speedboat will depart the resort at 2:00pm for transfer to the ferry in Sikakap. The ferry departs Sikakap at 5:00pm for its return to Padang. The ferry arrives back to Padang, the following morning at 7:00AM.

Guests with earlier flights may be transferred directly to the airport if preferred. Guests with transit time before their flight are taken to Mercure Hotel to enjoy a hearty breakfast buffet for Rp.105.000 (approx. AU $10.00) and access to pool, wifi, shower and lounge. Our driver will schedule pick-up times with each guest for transfer to the airport.

Rough Seas Alternate Transport from Local Ferry Port to ResortIf the sea/weather conditions are deemed too dangerous for the speedboat transfer between the local ferry port and the resort, we will organize alternative overland transport. Each guest will ride on the back of a motorbike taxi with an experienced local driver. The route travels through beautiful jungle and small villages. Each guest should bring a small bag with important personal belongings, while all other luggage will still be transported by boat. This applies to both arrivals and departures if necessary.

Ferry Departs Padang at 5:00pm on Tuesdays & Saturdays arriving at 7:00am the following morning on Wednesday or Sunday in Sikakap, Mentawai

Ferry Departs Sikakap (Mentawai) at 5:00pm on Wednesdays & Sundays arriving at 7:00am the following morning on Thursday or Monday in Padang

Resort Check-in and Check-out days are on Sundays and Wednesdays, when the ferry arrives and leaves Sikakap, Mentawai.

Arriving Guests must arrive to Padang before 2:00pm on chosen Tuesday or Saturday departure day, which is a day before resort check-in/check-out to make the 5:00pm Padang ferry for the over-night passage. Guests will arrive at in Mentawai at 7:00am the following morning and check-in to the resort that morning on either a Wednesday or Sunday.

Departing Guests will check-out of the resort on Wednesday or Sunday at 10:00am and after lunch at 2:00pm will be transferred by Speedboat to Sikakap to take the 5:00pm overnight ferry back to Padang arriving on Thursday or Monday morning by 7:00am. Departing flights should depart no earlier than 11:30am.

Transportation to the Mentawais is comfortable and fun on the Ambu Ambu Ferry!

The large, well-maintained Ambu Ambu Ferry has private A/C sleeping cabins that are clean and comfortable allowing most guests to get a full nights rest. Taking the over-night Ambu Ambu ferry allows an extra day of surfing and most are pleasantly surprised, finding the trip over to be an enjoyable social and cultural experience.

Special Deals

Summer Season Early Bird Special: up to 30% Off in December, January & February!Visiting in summer months means low crowds, perfect medium sized surf and up to 30% Off regular Surfer rates! The first 10 Surfers who book in get 30% Off, the following 10 get 20% off. Bring along your family and enjoy the perfect surfing holiday in paradise.

Beginner Surfer Package is 50% Off the Regular Surfer Rate!Beginner surfers visit Macaronis Resort at 50% off the regular private Surfer rate! Free use of learning surf boards and a 1 hour surf lesson is included. Ready to take the plunge? Coming with your partner who already surfs and you want to learn? This is the perfect opportunity

Rates

Catering to the family surf holiday, children under 6 are free and non-surfing & beginner guests visit at half price! Choose from any all-inclusive surf trip package on a year-round schedule with 4, 5, 8,11, 12 & 15 surf day options! Children 5 & under are FREE & children 6-12 pay non-surfer rates. Roll-away/fold-out beds are available for children. One extra children’s bed per Queen Room only; extra bed cannot be added to Twin Rooms.All prices in AUD

The Surf

During your stay at Macaronis Resort, you will most likely witness several predominant swells come and go, depending on your trip duration. As the swell rises, Macaronis grows from medium size (fun for everybody), and gradually becomes more intense suiting those surfers with a little more experience.

On large swells, people are more likely to spread out surfing different local breaks, while the more experienced surfers get their share of barrels at Macaronis or Greenbush. Greenbush works best in South swells 180 – 190 degrees, which are generated by low pressure systems hitting the West coast of Australia, with swell refracting in a North direction, more common in early season. Macaronis works in any S-SW swell direction; the wave is more of a barrel on South swells, and with swells @ 200 – 210 degrees it gains its reputation of being akin to a skate park, rippable long workable walls with various barrel sections.

During Southern hemisphere winter months Macaronis has waves almost every day, and during summer months Macaronis remains similarly consistent with less intensity on the peak of the swell. Pasongan Bay has options for all levels of surfers, even for absolute beginners who have never surfed before! Fish Fingers is the perfect wave for learning to surf on our soft top surf boards, breaking just 150m away from the resort entrance.

In summer months when there are not many charters operating theycan visit a larger variety of waves including Thunders, which is a swell magnet and works best in small long period swells (ie. 1.2m @ 15 sec and above).

Waves SummaryThere are a number waves within close proximity to the resort. Macaronis is a perfect, consistent left hand wave that works on all tides, big and small swells, and most wind conditions. There is a fun right hand beach break ideal for beginners out front and several intermediate reef breaks in the area, as well as a few serious reef breaks that serve up the deepest, longest, hair raising barrels you could imagine.

Macaronis is unique; From 2-3 feet, it is a perfect very fun wave peeling over flat coral reef; good for anybody that is able to get to their feet and go across the face. For the average surfer, Macaronis provides the opportunity to improve your surfing quickly and lift your confidence in the water. At 3-4 feet, Macas becomes more challenging and starts to barrel from the take off, offering more power and lip for doing maneuvers and getting barreled. Over 6 feet, it becomes a dredging tube from take off. When Macas gets to this size, fortunately some of the other waves turn on, offering an alternative for those who prefer to surf something a bit more mellow.

Maccas Right is a great option in North winds and with a South swell. Silabu Left is ideal for those who want clean waves on their own. For the beginners; in the bay there is always Fish Fingers, which is a really fun mellow right hander breaking over a shallow sand bottom. Mini Maccas is another super fun left hander breaking over coral down the reef from Macas main break.

There is also a bommy peak in the middle of the bay that can be surfed on a stand up paddle board or longboard, which can be fun for those after something a little different on a big swell.

Macaronis is visited annually by pro surfers, shapers, photographers, and frothers alike. There is no doubt Macaronis is one of the best waves on the planet. Although perfect Macaronis is what most people come to surf, there are many other waves to choose from including some perfect alternatives for new to intermediate surfers. At Macaronis Resort, surfers of all levels can find exactly what they are looking for in Mentawai surf.

Waves Rating by Month

Ideal Size: 2′ – 6′

Tides: MID – HIGH

Swell Angles: SW / S

Wind Direction: SE

Average Wave Size (feet) and Period (seconds)

Average Water and Air Temperatures by Month (°F)

Waves Overview

Macaronis

Macaronis

Macaronis, more commonly referred to as Macas, is a mechanical left-hander that has been described by many as being the most high performance wave in existence. In glassy or off-shore conditions 4 – 6 second barrels are manageable from the take off, while the inside section is a bit like a skaters half-pipe where you can do countless numbers of Rio’s, tail-slides, floaters, airs, and cut-backs.
Macas is such a fun wave to surf even in onshore conditions, and is one of the few reef breaks in the world that continues to break well in all tides. Macas holds from 2 – 8 feet and technically doesn’t get any bigger than this; it just becomes more hollow and round.
The greatest thing about Macas is its consistency, and that it breaks slightly different at each stage of the tide with varying west – south swell directions. Generally a south west ground swell will cause Macaronis to break most mechanically, lining up all the way down the reef. Macas is surfable all day long in a variety of on-shore and off-shore conditions, in fact some actually prefer Macas to have a slightly on-shore SW breeze on it, as it makes the wave so damn fun and rippable.
In 2003, Waves Magazine conducted a survey poll of 50 of the world’s best surfers and industry figureheads in order to rank the world’s best waves purely for their enjoyment value. Macas ranked #1 in the world in that survey. In fact, 76% of all surveyed, “goofy and natural footers agreed; Macaronis is the ‘funnest’ wave they have ever ridden” (Waves magazine, December 2003 edition).

Greenbush

Greenbush

One of the most amazing waves to surf in the southern Mentawai region. Macas may be the most predictable and most fun wave to surf, while Greenbush has become known as one of the most mesmerizing and hair raising. The tube is very open and on the correct swell direction all three sections link up and it is very make-able.
Regular visitors class this wave as a true gem; it works on a solid South swell, big high tides (at least 1m) and East – North West winds. If you would like to score this wave, time your trip on a new or full moon spring tide. This is definitely a tube ride you’ll never forget. Not too shallow on the take off, very photogenic, and an excellent wave for those willing to charge.
Usually earlier season, March – June seem to be the best time when winds are lighter and large long period South swells are more common. November through to February also delivers some special sessions, completely uncrowded, as South swells remain common during summer months.

Silabu Left

Silabu Left

Silabu Left can be surfed on all tides and is ideal for those seeking a mellower option with no crowds. It is an ideal wave for those just starting out surfing reef breaks, or for those who are looking to find their feet and build their confidence level. A great wave for getting surf fit, as you need to do a bit more paddling here. Silabu is more protected from South winds and can remain off-shore in mornings for another hour or so if Southerly winds are expected. Although not that long, it is a fun wave close by, and boat guests never surf here, as it is located on the other side of the headland (we go through the tidal lagoon to get there). If Macas is breaking 3 feet or bigger, Silabu Left should be also breaking around the same size and empty.

Macaronis Right

Macaronis Right

Macas Right becomes a quality wave in a thick south swell with northerly winds and a medium to high tide. It is not surfed or photographed often and basically just sits in the background of Macaronis being the main focal point that people come to visit. Macas Right is often at its best when Macaronis is also firing, and therefore it often gets ignored.
So if you would like to surf on your own whilst staying at Macaronis Resort or just with a couple of others, be different, and go surf the right on a North wind and south swell, you will be surprised with what you find.

Mini Maccas

Mini Maccas

Mini Macas breaks inside of Macaronis and is a perfect little left-hand peak ideal for those looking for something a little less heavy than Macaronis. The wave is best at high tide, and is generally empty. You can get dropped off at Mini Macas on the way out to Macaronis and easily flag down a boat ride in as well. You can even watch the waves up at Macaronis to get a feel for when the sets are about to arrive. Mini Macas is most consistent when Macaronis is pumping.

Bat Caves

Bat Caves

Another option for those seeking a long, mellow, uncrowded right hand wave is at Bat Cave AKA Bat Caves. This wave breaks for a few hundred meters down the edge of a tiny deserted island, pictured here. This is also a great spot to swim, snorkel and explore.
Bat Cave picks up a lot of swell, especially if it has a westerly direction. The wave occasionally dishes up a little barrel and offers long racy walls, but generally it is a point break with sections; definitely need some paddling fitness when it gets bigger.
The boat trip to Bat Caves is equally appealing for non-surfers to take in the spectacular surroundings, go snorkeling, fishing (fish are plentiful in this region), or have a picnic and relax on the beautiful beach.
Across the channel, high cliffs provide a place for cliff jumping, visiting the caves, and exploring some very remote beaches. A long stretch of beautiful beach extends south from the caves excellent for beach walking and exploring.

Rags Left

Rags Left

Rag’s Left is a long barreling wave that turns on during large south-west swells. If you are lucky enough to catch Rags at 8 ft or bigger, don’t forget to shoot a photo of the lineup, it is an extraordinary sight, one that you are unlikely to see too often. Rags Left is very dependent on swell direction, tide and wind. When everything falls into place, massive barrels start from an outside boil, eventually mellowing further down the line into a large open face that can be ridden for a further 100m or more. We don’t surf here that often as Rags Left works in same conditions as Macaronis, which is a more predictable and user friendly wave.

Rags Right

Rags Right

Rags Right is a non-stop tube from start to finish. At low tide forget it, unless you choose to surf the outside section, which can occasionally offer some alternative on a northerly wind. At high tide though, and on the right swell, Rag’s Right can offer perhaps some of the thickest, hollowest tubes in south Mentawai. The wave grinds down a section of reef that is famous for two coral heads situated at the kick out point – always in the back of a surfers mind whilst locked inside the tube and looking to negotiate a safe exit.

Thunders

Thunders

Thunders is one of the most consistent breaks in the Mentawai’s and is surfable on all tides. Higher tides usually offer racy tube sections over a shallow inside reef shelf breaking close to the island, whilst lower tides offer a forceful shoulder further out the back. In smaller south swells the top section of the reef can turn on offering long hollow barrels.
Generally Thunders is an excellent option in smaller long period swells and can handle crowds due to there being a number of take off spots.

Roxy's

Roxy's

Roxies is a fun right-hander that works best in W – SW swells. It is fairly consistent and very fun wave to surf, and when it gets bigger it also becomes a hollow barrel. Roxies is only 45 minutes to the south of Macaronis Resort, and we frequent this spot on occasions for those chasing after a right-hander. Has been called ‘Macas in reverse’, due to the wave being a fun and perfectly peeling right.

Rednuht

Rednuht

Rednuht is a solid right-hander that breaks in deep water. The wave is not that long but barrels from take off and dishes up a good bit of adrenalin.
This wave requires the right tides and swell direction to work, but when it’s on, it’s on. Ask the surf guides for the run down.